Hurtigruten means "fast route" in Norwegian. For a long time, the ships of the shipping company founded in 1893 were the fastest means of transport along the country's 2700 kilometre coastline. After the postal service was discontinued in 1984, tourists played an increasingly important role. In addition to the year-round liner service, expedition cruises in other regions are now also part of the offer. Since 2021, Hurtigruten has shared its domestic business with a competitor.
BOOTE editor Christian Tiedt was on board and shows his favourite pictures from the Hurtigruten in the gallery above. He spent eleven days on board the "Trollfjord", one of a total of twelve ships travelling between Bergen and the North Cape.
The climatic changes during the journey are particularly impressive: "We pass the Arctic Circle on the fourth day. Snow begins to fall and soon the deck is covered," writes Tiedt. On the seventh day of the journey, the passengers on the Hurtigruten finally see the aurora in the polar sky for the first time. On the return to Bergen, the snow finally falls again as rain.
Distances on the Hurtigruten
- Bergen - Ålesund: 315 km
- Ålesund - Trondheim: 323 km
- Trondheim - Bodø: 506 km
- Bodø - Tromsø: 465 km
- Tromsø - Honningsvåg (North Cape): 378 km
- Honningsvåg - Kirkenes: 406 km
- Total distance (outward and return journey; winter): 4900 km
- Info under hurtigruten.com
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This article was first published in December 2022 and has been updated for this online version.
